BBC Lifestyle has revealed the cast of First Dates South Africa, the hit dating format which will premiere on DStv channel 174 from 16 October 2019 at 8pm. With the cool, calm and collected Maître D’ Batsile, charming bartender Travis and hilarious waiting trio, Ash, Joey and Tamara now confirmed, this group will work together to create the ultimate dating environment for 120 people as they step through the First Dates restaurant doors looking for love.
Produced by the multi-award-winning Rapid Blue, First Dates South Africa will provide audiences with front row seats as South Africans put their best selves forwards and go on a blind date at the First Dates restaurant in Greenside, Johannesburg. From initial nerves to flirty smiles and sparks of chemistry, discreetly placed cameras capture every moment of the action as it unfolds. Packed with a diverse cast of authentic characters all looking for love, each episode plays out like the funniest of romantic comedies. First Dates is a heart-warming, heart-stopping and laugh out loud dating show, which ends with a trip to the First Dates booth, where each couple reveals what they really thought, and we discover if true love has blossomed. Will this unique first date lead to a second?
Batsile Ramasodi – Maître D’
An all-round entertainer, Batsile is perfectly suited to be the Maître d’ at the First Dates South Africa restaurant. As a father and husband, Batsile is a self-proclaimed romantic and well positioned to aid daters along their first dates and open them up to the prospect of finding love.
Travis Kuhn – Bartender
Travis is South Africa’s current Bartending Accolades and Recognition (BAR) Awards Bartender of the Year and has been bartending for over 20 years. A romantic at heart, Travis has been married for 12 years and has three children. After getting the call to be the bartender for the First Dates restaurant, Travis set himself the personal challenge of wanting to be able to make any cocktail ordered by a dater – and describes his drinks as “out of this world”.
Ash Daniel – Waiter
An experienced waiter, Ash loves how the job introduces her to a wide variety of people. In fact, she often forms such a great dynamic with her customers that she becomes friends with them! Currently single, Ash admits to being slightly cynical about romance and love – but deep down she is a total sucker for big romantic gestures. She thoroughly enjoys watching dating shows, as they calm her nerves about going on first dates, by watching other people sit through the awkwardness and survive.
Joey Mathe – Waiter
Joey is a man with many tricks up his sleeve and has worked as a model, salesman and a waiter; he can also speak 13 African languages. Joey is currently single and describes himself as a romantic. Joey wanted to join the First Dates South Africa team as he is a huge fan of the UK version. He enjoys watching dating shows and romantic films and his all-time romantic film is The Notebook.
Tamara Lesabe – Waiter
Tamara is multitalented – in addition to being a genetics and medical cell biologist she is also a model, a blogger, an artist and former waiter. Tamara is currently single and would 100% describe herself as a romantic and an old soul through and through. It was her romantic nature that encouraged her to audition for the series.
Fast facts about First Dates South Africa:
- It took a team of 20 people, four weeks to design, build and make-over the First Dates SA restaurant, in Greenside
- It took four days to strike the set
- There are 30 cameras placed discreetly in the First Dates restaurant to capture every detail of each couples first date – the biggest fixed rig set ever built in SA
- A total of 60 dates were filmed for this series. Each one taking on average two hours
- It takes on average 140 hours to edit one episode
- Each episode aims to showcase four to five dates
- 5 kilometres of cabling was used to install the cameras in the restaurant
- 70 people were needed on set every day to film the series. These included chaperones, logistics, medic, health and safety, catering and the production team.
What: First Dates South Africa
Where and when: BBC Lifestyle, DStv Channel 174 from 16 October 2019 at 8pm
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